Combustion oven

ABSTRACT

An oven is provided, which includes a domed ceiling, a baking stone located below the domed ceiling, a cooking chamber between the domed ceiling and the baking stone, a front opening that provides access to the cooking chamber for food and utensils, a combustion chamber adjacent to, and at least partially below, the cooking chamber, and a rear opening that provides access to the combustion chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. Application No._, filed Sep. 30,2021, bearing Attorney Docket No. 57982.170US01, the entire disclosureof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to a combustible fuelburning oven with modular components. This oven has particular but notexclusive utility for outdoor cooking.

BACKGROUND

Portable, fixed, and semi-fixed ovens are used for example in camping,in residential back yards, or other locations to cook pizza and otherfoods. The dimensions and construction of ovens may make them difficultto move or store. External surfaces of an oven may be dangerously hotwhile the oven is operating, or shortly thereafter, thus limiting thetypes of surfaces on which the oven can be placed, limiting the abilityof users to move the oven, etc. Oven materials may be subject tosignificant heat and weathering and may therefore experience oxidationor warpage that limit their service life, affect their aestheticappearance, and may in some circumstances cause structural failure withadditional attendant fire risk. Utensils, doors, handles, and othercomponents can become coated with grease and other materials during useor may become dangerously hot. Utensils, doors, handles, and othercomponents that touch the ground or other surfaces may becomecontaminated or may present a risk of fire or risk of burn injury. Whenthe oven's cooking surface (e.g., a pizza baking stone) is heated tocooking temperatures, users may find it difficult to access the fuel(e.g., to add or rearrange fuel materials) without risk of fire orinjury.

Many existing oven designs do not permit adequate air flow required tosupport full and even combustion of the fuel, thus resulting in smokethat can affect nearby people and animals and can affect food quality.Improper use of an oven may result in improperly cooked food and/or therisk of fire or injury. Emptying ashes and un-combusted fuel from anoven may be labor-intensive or messy.

It should therefore be appreciated that commonly used ovens havenumerous drawbacks, including one or more of low portability, poorcombustion performance, poor cooking performance, short service life,smoke generation, fire risk, safety risk, contamination risk, andaesthetic degradation, among others. Accordingly, long-felt needs existfor ovens that address one or more of the forgoing or other concerns.

The information included in this Background section of thespecification, including any references cited herein and any descriptionor discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes onlyand is not to be regarded as subject matter by which the scope of thedisclosure is to be bound.

SUMMARY

This disclosure is directed to a modular cooking apparatus, disclosedherein as an oven. The modular oven may include combinations ofadvantageous features, such as stainless-steel construction, acirculation-enhancing front doorway top lip, a dome-shaped cookingchamber, fully removable front and rear doors, a dual-fuel design, frontand rear air intakes, integral handgrips, rubberized feet, and a flat,rubberized top surface. The modular oven is designed to enhanceconvective circulation in the interior, providing enhanced efficiencyand temperature stability, to cook more evenly for longer periods oftime. A double-walled oven body may be insulated with ceramic typehigh-heat insulation to help with heat retention.

In typical oven designs, combustion make up air is drawn in through thedoorway. The example modular oven disclosed herein uses vents in thebase to bring air into the housing from below, and then circulate upthrough the combustion chamber. This also may bring fresh air into thecombustion chamber at different heights, which in some implementations,may permit integration of secondary combustion features. Someimplementations may employ one or more internal heat baffles underneaththe stone and ash pan help reflect radiant heat back up into the cookingchamber. Removable handles on the doors allow for quick engagement butsmaller storage profile. In some aspects, an internal, two-piece bakingstone covers the entire width of the interior of the oven, to provide alarger thermal mass to help offset temperature drops from door openingsand closings and may provide consistent heating when used without doors.The ash pan and ash pan grate may be removable. In certainimplementations, spacing and air inlet holes are strategically locatedto allow efficient burning and allow secondary combustion. In someaspects, a gas burner can install in the same rear door location byremoving the rear door.

The modular oven disclosed herein has particular, but not exclusive,utility for outdoor cooking. For example, cooking may be done in yards,parks, campsites, or other areas.

Some general aspects of the modular oven include a domed ceiling; abaking stone disposed below the domed ceiling; a cooking chamber betweenthe domed ceiling and the baking stone; a first opening that providesaccess to the cooking chamber, the first opening sized to accommodatefood to be cooked in the oven. The oven also includes a combustionchamber disposed adjacent the cooking chamber and at least partiallybelow the cooking chamber; and a second opening that provides access tothe combustion chamber.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Someembodiments include a first nesting feature in the combustion chamber;an ash pan including a second nesting feature and removably positionablewithin the first nesting feature; and a fuel basket removablypositionable within the second nesting feature and within the combustionchamber, where the ash pan and fuel basket are sized to pass through thesecond opening. In some embodiments, the ash pan and the fuel basketeach include a plurality of ventilation holes, the fuel basket being influid communication with at least one air intake. In some embodiments,The plurality of ventilation holes in the fuel basket include holes at alower elevation and holes at a higher elevation, the holes at a higherelevation being disposed to provide secondary combustion of gasesreleased from a combusting fuel in the fuel basket. In some embodiments,the oven further includes a front opening bezel positioned within thefirst opening; and a front door removably positionable within the frontopening bezel. In some embodiments, the oven further includes a frontlip positioned at a top edge of the front opening bezel, the front lipconfigured to affect air flow within the cooking chamber. In someembodiments, a height of the front opening has a ratio of between 1:1:47and 1:1.61. to a height of a highest feature of the domed ceiling abovethe baking stone. In some embodiments, the combustion chamber isconfigured to interchangeably accommodate both a fuel burning basket anda gas burner. In some embodiments, the combustion chamber configured tosimultaneously accommodate both a fuel burning basket and a gas burner.In some embodiments, the oven further includes a rear opening bezelpositioned within the second opening. In some embodiments, the ovenfurther includes a gas burner removably positionable within the rearopening bezel and configured to supply heat to the cooking chamber whena gas of the gas burner is combusted. In some embodiments, the ovenfurther includes a heat shield disposed behind the baking stone andextending to an elevation above the baking stone, the heat shieldseparating the cooking chamber from the combustion chamber.

One general aspect includes an oven with an oven body including: anouter wall; an inner wall disposed within and spaced from the outerwall; a top portion including a flat upper surface; a bottom portionincluding a bottom surface, the bottom portion including at least oneformed handgrip and at least one air intake; a domed ceiling attached tothe inner wall below the flat upper surface; a baking stone positionedbelow and spaced from the domed ceiling; a cooking chamber defined bythe baking stone, the domed ceiling, and the inner wall; a combustionchamber adjacent the cooking chamber; a baffle positioned between andspaced from the baking stone and the bottom surface, and above the atleast one air intake; a front opening through the outer wall and theinner wall providing access to the cooking chamber; and a rear openingthrough the outer wall and the inner wall and providing access to thecombustion chamber.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Insome embodiments, the outer wall, inner wall, top portion, bottomportion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling, baking stone, cookingchamber, baffle, front opening, and rear opening are configured suchthat the at least one formed handgrip does not exceed 150° F. while atemperature in the cooking chamber is 450° F. or less. In someembodiments, the at least one air intake is disposed so that at leastsome air flow from the at least one air intake flows between the baffleand the bottom surface. In some embodiments, the outer wall, inner wall,top portion, bottom portion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling,baking stone, cooking chamber, baffle, front opening, and rear openingare configured such that at least some heated air within the cookingchamber forms a convective air dam proximate to the front opening. Insome embodiments, the outer wall, inner wall, top portion, bottomportion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling, baking stone, cookingchamber, baffle, front opening, and rear opening are configured suchthat at least some heated air within the cooking chamber exits thecooking chamber through the front opening. In some embodiments, the ovenfurther includes a heat-resistant ceramic insulation material positionedadjacent to at least one of the outer wall, inner wall, top portion,bottom portion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling, baffle, frontopening, or rear opening. In some embodiments, a total mass of the ovenis between about 10 lbs and about 100 lbs.

One general aspect includes a portable oven, including an oven bodyhaving a front opening and a rear opening. The portable oven includes afront air inlet disposed below the front opening and providing air to alower insulating air space. The portable oven also includes a combustionchamber adjacent to and accessible from the rear opening, the lowerinsulating space being in communication with the combustion chamber. Theportable oven also includes a cooking chamber separated from anddisposed above the lower insulating chamber, the cooking chamber beingin communication with the combustion chamber, the cooking chamber beingaccessible through the front opening. The portable oven also includes anintermediate insulating air space between the cooking chamber and thelower insulating air space.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Insome embodiments, the oven includes an upper insulating air spacedisposed above and isolated from the cooking chamber. In someembodiments, the oven includes a cooking stone disposed between andseparating the cooking chamber and the intermediate insulating airspace. In some embodiments, the oven includes a baffle between theintermediate insulating air space and the lower insulating air space.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tolimit the scope of the claimed subject matter. A more extensivepresentation of features, details, utilities, and advantages of themodular oven, as defined in the claims, is provided in the followingwritten description of various embodiments of the disclosure andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example modular oven, in accordancewith at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective cross-sectional views of an oven body ofan example modular oven, in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an oven body of an example modular oven,in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air flow through an examplemodular oven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of radiant heat within of an examplemodular oven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of at least a portion of an example modularoven in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of fuel basket and ash pan of an examplemodular oven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the oven body, including thebase, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of an example modular oven, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a is a perspective front view of an example modular oven, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of the modularoven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective, cross-sectional side view of the examplemodular oven of FIG. 11 , in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective, side view of the bas burner of FIGS. 11 and 12, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a perspective front view of the modular oven, in accordancewith at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective side view of the modular oven, in accordancewith at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective top partially transparent view of the modularoven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are describedin the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated thatlike reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustratedin one or more of the figures for purposes of illustrating but notlimiting embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation tothe scope of the disclosure is intended. Any alterations and furthermodifications to the described devices, systems, and methods, and anyfurther application of the principles of the present disclosure arefully contemplated and included within the present disclosure as wouldnormally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosurerelates. In particular, it is fully contemplated that the features,components, and/or steps described with respect to one embodiment may becombined with the features, components, and/or steps described withrespect to other embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake ofbrevity, however, the numerous iterations of these combinations will notbe described separately. These descriptions are provided for exemplarypurposes only and should not be considered to limit the scope of themodular oven. Certain features may be added, removed, or modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of the claimed subject matter.

In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure,a modular oven may include various combinations of features, such asstainless steel construction, a circulation-enhancing front lip, adome-shaped cooking chamber, fully removable front and rear doors withdouble-walled-insulated design, the ability to burn multiple differenttypes of fuels, front and rear air intakes, integral handgrips,rubberized feet (e.g., rubberized with heat-resistant silicone), and aflat, rubberized (e.g., heat-resistant silicone) top surface.

The modular oven may be configured to enhance convective circulation inthe interior. This involves an interior domed ceiling and anadvantageous front door to interior height proportions (e.g., aFibonacci relationship). This differs from current tunnel shaped ovensand may provide substantially more temperature stability and fuelefficiency. This in turn may allow the modular oven to cook more evenlyand for longer periods of time (opening abilities to cook many differentfoods). In some embodiments, the front opening is sized between 12 and18 inches, to accommodate, for example, 12-13 inch pizzas. Other sizeslarger and smaller are contemplated. A double-walled oven body may beinsulated with ceramic type high-heat insulation (e.g., flexible ceramicblankets) to help with heat retention and to keep exterior surfacescool.

In contrast to conventional oven designs that draw air in through thedoorway, the modular oven described herein makes use of front and/orrear air intakes in an oven base to bring air into the housing frombelow, and then circulate up through the combustion chamber. In someimplementations, the oven also brings fresh air into the combustionchamber at different heights, which permits integration secondarycombustion features in the solid-fuel-burning components.

In some examples, including the example described herein, the baseincludes handholds in the side for lifting and rubber feet forprotection of surfaces. The front bezel around the front opening may bedesigned to accept a separable, freestanding front door. When used, thedoor may sit in the opening under its own weight and is an insulateddouble wall design. Some embodiments employ a series of internal heatbaffles underneath the stone and ash pan help reflect radiant heat backup into the cooking chamber, improving efficiency and keeping portionsof the base (e.g., where the handholds are located) below 150° F. (65.6°C.)— a touch point heat threshold for human contact.

Some embodiments include a rear door that may nest into position underits own weight, while an angled jamb prevents the door from being ableto tip or fall out once in place. To remove the rear door, it may bepulled upwards at an angle. This may help the door stay in positionwithout the need for clasps or separate retaining pieces.

Some embodiments employ removeable handles on the doors. Removablehandles may allow for quick engagement but a smaller storage profile. Aninternal baking stone may cover the entire width of the interior of theoven. This may provide a larger thermal mass to help offset temperaturedrops from door openings and closings, when doors are so used. This mayalso provide a wide space for placement of foods. In some embodiments,the stone is split into a plurality of pieces, shown as two piecesherein, to allow removal if necessary (e.g., for cleaning). Someimplementations include a shield between the rear of the baking stoneand combustion chamber. Among other purposes, this may prevent pizzafrom being pushed too far into the oven and may also help facilitateadvantageous circulation of hot air.

In the example implementations shown herein, the ash pan and fuel basketare removable. Spacing and air inlet holes are strategically located toallow efficient burning and, in some implementations, allow secondarycombustion. A gas burner can install in the same rear door location byremoving the rear door. For safety, the gas burner must be screwed intothe body of the oven using thumbscrews on the burner housing. Acylindrical shape for the modular oven facilitates handling and storage.The modular oven disclosed herein has particular, but not exclusive,utility for outdoor cooking. For example, cooking may be done in yards,parks, campsites, or other areas.

The example implementations described in the present disclosure may aidoutdoor cooking operations by improving the usability of combustion-typeovens, such as, for example, wood-fueled ovens, as well as gas-fueledovens. Some embodiments may include pellet-fueled, charcoal-fueled, orliquid-fueled ovens. Some embodiments may be implemented in durablematerials such as stainless steel, with a body design that maximizes airflow for even combustion and that may cool some outer surfaces, themodular ovens disclosed herein may provide practical devices, methods,and systems for cooking food using radiant and/or convective heat. Theexamples herein may transform a typically non-portable device into onethat is portable and may be easily transported by a single person.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example portable, modular oven 100,in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.The modular oven 100 includes an oven body 110 which includes a base120, with handgrips 130 for lifting and rubberized feet 140 forprotection of surfaces on which the oven 110 is placed. The base 120also includes a front vent or front air inlet 150, and a rear vent orrear air inlet 160. The oven body 110 includes a removable front door170 and a removable rear door 180, each with a removable handle 175. Theoven body also includes a top bezel 195 and a flat top 190. In someembodiments, the flat top 190 may include a rubberized surface (e.g.,heat-resistant silicone), and/or may serve as a temporary storage shelf.For example, the removable doors 170, 180, and/or the removable handles175 may be stored temporarily on the flat top 190 during various stagesof a cooking procedure.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the oven body 110 of modular oven 100has a generally cylindrical outer surface shape. However, it should beunderstood that at least some portions of the modular oven 100,including the oven body 110, may be otherwise shaped. For example, theoven body 110 may be shaped as a square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon,octagon, or other shape.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective cross-sectional views of the modularoven 100 taken along lines 2A-2A and 2B-2B respectively in FIG. 1 , inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Visible are the oven body 110, front vent or front air inlet 150, a rearvent or rear air inlet 160, removable front door 170 disposed in a frontopening 330 (shown without the front door 170 in place in FIG. 3 ),removable rear door 180 disposed in a rear opening 340 (shown withoutthe rear door 180 in place in FIG. 3 ), and flat top 190. Also, visibleare an outer wall 200, as well as an inner wall 220, baking stone orbaking stone 230, and a domed ceiling 235. Due to the cylindrical shapedefined by the inner wall 220, some embodiments of the domed ceiling 235are partially spherical. The domed ceiling may be formed of a singlesheet of stamped metal.

The inner wall 220, the baking stone 230, and the domed ceiling 235define a cooking chamber 210. The inner wall 220 and the outer wall 200are spaced apart, forming an insulative gap therebetween. In someembodiments when used for fuel burning with wood, pellets, charcoal orother non-gas fuel, the front door 170 and rear door 180 arefreestanding, resting in the oven body 110 under their own weight, andare not mechanically connected (e.g., not connected by being hinged,latched, fastened, or otherwise fixed to the oven body 110), but ratherentirely removable from the oven body 110 and rely upon the structuralshape of the oven body 110, the doors 170, 180, and gravity. When usedwith a gas burner, the rear door 180 may be attached using fasteners,such as thumb screws for example. Each door 170, 180 may be adouble-wall design, including an outer wall, an inner wall, and aninsulative gap therebetween. In the implementation shown, the insulativegap is an airgap, although other materials with low thermal conductivitycould be included in the gaps between the outer and inner walls. In someembodiments, the domed ceiling 235, inner wall 220, or outer wall 200may have an insulating material disposed thereon, e.g., with aheat-resistant ceramic layer or coating, or other insulating material.

The domed ceiling 235, together with the outer wall 200, top bezel 195,and flat top 190, define an upper insulating air space 250, which helpskeep the top surface 190 cooler than the domed ceiling 235 duringcooking operations.

A baking stone tray 240 supports the baking stone 230, and in theimplementations shown, includes a series of elevated ridges or bumpsthat contact the baking stone 230 only at intervals. In someimplementations, these ridges or bumps support the baking stone in amanner that provides a low contact area with the baking stone 230. Theseelevated ridges or bumps may accommodate some air between portions ofthe baking stone 230 and the stone tray 240, to minimize heat transferfrom the baking stone.

A heat baffle 260 is disposed below and spaced from the baking stonetray 240. In this embodiment, the heat baffle 260 supports an angledseparating wall 262 and a combustion containment floor 264. Thecombustion containment floor 264 is therefore at a lower elevation thanthe heat baffle 260. The combustion containment floor 264 may haveangled reflector wings configured to reflect heat upwardly. In theexample shown, the angled separating wall 262 is a substantiallyvertical wall, and the combustion containment floor 264 includes asubstantially horizontal wall portion 264 a and angled reflectorportions 264 b extending from the substantially horizontal portion. Inthis implementation, the angled separating wall 262 and the combustioncontainment floor 264 are formed from the same sheet metal as the heatbaffle 260 and hang down therefrom.

The baking stone tray 240, the heat baffle 260, and the inner wall 220define an intermediate insulating air space 270.

Adjacent a back of the stone tray, a heat shield 440 extends upwardlyabove the baking stone 230, The heat shield 440 may also serve as a heatreflector that reflects stone heat toward any baking food.

The separating wall 262, the combustion containment floor 264, the heatshield 440, and the rear door 180 form a combustion chamber 212. Thecombustion chamber 212 provides heat to the cooking chamber 210.

The heat shield 440 may separate the cooking chamber 210 above the stonefrom the combustion chamber 212 and may direct hot air flow upwardlytoward the domed ceiling 235. In addition, it may physically preventfood from being pushed off the back of the baking stone and into thecombustion chamber 212.

A bottom pan 280, together with the heat baffle 260 and outer wall 200,define a lower insulating air space 290, which helps keep the bottom pan280 (including the handgrips 130, as shown for example in FIG. 1 ) at alower temperature than the cooking chamber 210. In an example, handgrips130 may be formed with the lower insulating airspace to be kept below150° F., which is a touch point safety threshold for up to one-secondtouch by unprotected human hands, even when the cooking chamber is up to450° F. After one second of contact at 150° F., damage may occur tounprotected hands. The use of formed handgrips may reduce the profile ofthe oven body 110 vs. using attached handles and lengthy projectinglegs, thus making the oven body 110 easily portable by a person and easyto store. This may enable a user to take it on campouts, picnics, easilytransport it to parks, set it up in a backyard, transport it in a car,truck, or other vehicle, or set up or move it to other temporary placesof use. To do this, some implementations of the oven have a total sizeand mass consistent with one-person carry. Accordingly depending on theimplementation, the total mass may be between about 10 lbs to 100 lbs inan assembled condition, with some smaller versions weighing about 10 lbsand some larger versions weighing up to 100 lbs, with some examplesweighing 25-30 lbs or 60-75 lbs. In other implementations, the totalmass may be between about 10 lbs and 40 lbs in a usable condition. Inaddition, depending on the implementation, the oven 100 may have a totalwidth (which in cylindrical embodiments may be a diameter excluding thehandles) in a range of about 16 to 48 inches. In other implementations,the total width may be in a range of about 16 to 36 inches. The heightmay be in a range of about 12 to 36 inches in some implementations, andin other implementations, may be in a range of about 16 to 30 inches.

Some implementations include an air-flow disrupter 1510 (shown in FIGS.15 and 16 ) disposed above the front opening 330. The disrupter 1510 mayprotrude from the inner wall into the cooking chamber 210 in asubstantially flat or horizontal direction between the dome ceiling 235and the front opening 330. The disrupter 1510 may create turbulent airflow as described herein below. In some implementations, the disrupter1510 may be disposed only above the front opening, while in otherembodiments, it may extend further around the cooking chamber. Alsovisible are a fuel basket 292 and ash pan 294. In an example,combustible material (e.g., wood) can be placed in the fuel basket 292and ignited. Ash from the combustion can then fall through the fuelbasket and into the ash pan 294. In an example, the outer wall 200,inner wall 220, domed ceiling 235, front door 170, rear door 180, bakingstone tray 240, heat baffle 260, bottom pan 280, top bezel 195, flat top190, fuel basket 292, and ash pan 294 are made of a durable, formable,minimally conducting material such as stainless steel. In otherembodiments, the fuel basket 292 and ash pan 294 may be configured toburn charcoal, wood pellets, or other fuels.

The rear door 180 is designed to nest into position under its ownweight. In some embodiments, an angled jamb 296 prevents the rear door180 from being able to tip or fall out once in place. To remove the reardoor 180, it can be pulled upwards at an angle. This design enables thedoor to stay in position without the need for clasps or separateretaining pieces.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the modular oven 100, in accordance withat least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Visible is the ovenbody 110, along with its user-removable components: the front door 170with removable handle 175, rear door 180 with removable handle 175,baking stone 230, fuel basket 292, and ash pan 294. In an example, thebaking stone is divided into two separately handleable pieces 230 a and230 b, each of which is sized to fit through the front opening 330. Thisenables the baking stone to be large enough to bake pizzas of a desiredsize (e.g., 12-inch or 13-inch diameter pizzas), while still beingremovable (e.g., for cleaning). In some embodiments, the baking stonepieces 230 a and 230 b are identical, with one being flipped withrespect to the other. The fuel basket 292 and ash pan 294 can be movedinto place within the oven body 110 through the rear opening 340.

In an example cooking operation, the baking stone 230 is within the ovenbody 110. The front door 170 and rear door 180 are removed, using thehandles 175. The fuel basket 292 and ash pan 294 are then placed intotheir respective positions within the oven body 110 (as shown forexample in FIG. 2 ), fuel is placed within the fuel basket 292, andignited. The rear door 180 is then placed back into position within theoven body 110, and a pizza (or other food item(s)) 350 is maneuveredthrough the front opening 330 and placed onto the baking stone 230(e.g., with a pizza spatula or other utensil). The front door may remainopen until the pizza (or other food item) 350 is fully cooked, at whichpoint the pizza (or other food item) 350 is removed from the oven body110. The oven body 110 can cool, after which the fuel basket 292 and ashpan 294 are removed, emptied of ash, uncombusted fuel, etc., and thenreturned to their positions within the oven body 110. The front door 170and rear door 180 are then closed (e.g., placed back into positionwithin the oven body 110). The oven 100 may then be left in place, movedto storage, etc.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the air flow through theexample modular oven 100, in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Cool, ambient air 410 is drawn in through thefront vent or font air intake 150 and the rear vent or rear air intake160. The cool air 410 flows through the lower insulating air space 290,helping maintain lower temperatures, which may reduce the likelihood ofpotential heat damage through the base 120. The cool air 410 then flowsupward from the lower insulating air space 290 into the combustionchamber 212. In the combustion chamber 212, the air is drawn through theash pan 294 and to the fuel basket 292. In some embodiments, cool air410 also flows up through an opening 415 in the heat baffle 260 and intoan upper region of the fuel basket 292. In other embodiments, the onlyentrance into the fuel basket is through a bottom region of the ash panand the fuel basket, which are better shown in FIG. 7 below.

Within the fuel basket, fuel 420 (e.g., wood) is combusted, thus heatingthe cool air 410 and converting it to hot air 430. Hot air 430 rises inthe combustion chamber 212 past the heat shield 440. In someembodiments, the heat shield 440 is configured to shape convectivecirculation of the hot air 430 within the cooking chamber 210. The hotair 430 then rises toward the domed ceiling 235. At the domed ceiling,the air flows from the combustion chamber 212 and into the cookingchamber 210. The heated air follows the shape of the domed ceiling 235forward to the front opening 330. In some embodiments, at the top of thefront opening, the hot air 430 encounters the flow disrupter 1510 at afront lip 450. In the example shown, the front lip 450 includes avertical wall portion adjacent a horizontal wall portion. The horizontalwall portion connects the vertical wall portion to the dome ceiling. Theflow disrupter 1510 and the front lip 450 may be configured to turn aportion of the hot air 430 downward and backward, thus forming aconvective air dam 470. Other portions of the hot air 430 exit from thefront opening 330 in a generally upward direction (e.g., following thecontours of the front opening). Furthermore, the center height of thedomed ceiling 235 and the height of the front opening 330 (e.g., theheight from the flat surface immediately inside the opening to the domedceiling immediately inside the opening) have a ratio of between about1:1.4 and about 1:1.7, thus forming boundaries that accommodate aFibonacci spiral. Some implementations have a ratio between about 1:1.47and about 1:1.61. This configuration advantageously encouragesconvection of the hot air 430 within the cooking chamber 210. This mayhelp the hot air 430 reside for a longer time in the cooking chamber210, thus shortening cooking times and improving fuel efficiency of themodular oven 100.

FIG. 5 is a perspective, cross-sectional view showing radiant heat 510within of an example modular oven 100, in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. When the domed ceiling 235 isheated by the convection of hot air within the cooking chamber 210, thedomed ceiling generates radiant heat 510 that is directed generallydownward toward the baking stone 230, and any foods (e.g., pizza) thatare placed on top of it.

FIG. 6 shows the two halves of the baking stone, 230 a and 230 b, therear door 180, and the removable handle 175. In some embodiments, theremovable handle 175 includes a hook 510 that fits into a slot 520within an aperture 530, although other features could be used instead orin addition, to permit the handle to removably engage with the back door180. In some embodiments, a similar slot 520 and aperture 530 are foundin the front door 170 as well.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fuel basket 292 and the ash pan 294of an example modular oven 100, in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. The fuel basket 292 is configuredto nest within the ash pan 294 via a nesting lip or other nestingfeature 640, which is configured to fit within a nesting lip or othernesting feature of the oven body 110 in an upward-facing orientation.When fuel is combusted in the fuel basket 292, air is drawn throughlower side air holes 610 in the ash pan, and upward through bottom airholes 620 in the fuel basket, to facilitate the combustion. Someimplementations of the fuel basket 292 and the ash pan 294 include upperside holes 630. Air may be drawn through upper side holes 630, which mayfacilitate secondary combustion of hot gases rising from the burningfuel. Secondary combustion can increase the heat output and decrease thesmoke production from the combusting fuel. Other implementations of thefuel basket 292 and the ash pan 294 are devoid of upper side holes 630and include solid walls.

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the oven body 110, including thebase 120, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Visible are the embossed handgrips 130, bottom legs 132, andthe rubberized feet 140. The handgrips 130 may permit a user to lift ormove the modular oven 100. The rubberized feet 140 may be disposed tosupport the bottom legs 132 and may be made of an insulating material.The rubberized feet 140 permit cool air to flow underneath the bottompan 280, including the bottom legs 132 and may prevent the bottom legs132 from directly contacting the surface on which the modular oven 100is placed. Such surfaces may for example include picnic tables,tablecloths, dirt, or grass, and the rubberized feet 140 may preventthese surfaces from becoming undesirably hot during cooking operations.In some implementations, the base 120 may be formed of a stamped sheetmetal, with both the handgrips 130 and the feet formed therein.

FIG. 9 is a perspective front view of an example modular oven 100, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Visible is the oven body 110, front vent or front air intake 150, frontdoor 170, removeable handle 175, and handle aperture 530. A front bezelaround the front opening (see FIG. 10 ) is designed to receive thefreestanding front door 170. In some implementations, the front door 170sits in the opening under its own weight, and may for example be of aninsulated, double-walled design.

FIG. 10 is a is a perspective front view of an example modular oven 100,in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Visible are the oven body 110, front vent or front air intake 150, frontopening 330, baking stone halves 230 a and 230 b, heat shield 440, andfront lip 450. The front lip 450 is part of a front bezel 910 that isconfigured to hold the front door 170 in place (see FIG. 9 ). The heatshield prevents food in the oven from being pushed too far back (e.g.,into the combustion chamber or directly over the fuel basket). In someembodiments, the heat shield includes air holes 920 which facilitatefuel combustion and/or convective circulation of hot air within thecooking chamber.

FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of another embodiment of the modularoven, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In some implementations, the modular oven may beinterchangeably heated with fire-burning fuels (e.g., wood, charcoal,pellets, etc.) or heated with gas (e.g., natural gas or propane). FIG.11 shows an example of the oven 100 in condition to be heated using agas burner. Accordingly, in this example, the rear door 180 has beenreplaced with a gas burner 1010 that fits within the rear opening 340(e.g., within a rear bezel 1030 shown in FIG. 12 ) of the oven body 110.The gas burner 1010 may be configured to burn liquid fuels such asethanol or methanol, or gaseous fuels such as propane, butane, ornatural gas, although other fuels may be used instead or in addition. Insome embodiments, for safety, the gas burner 1010 may be held in placewith captive screws 1020 (e.g., thumbscrews).

FIG. 12 is a perspective, cross-sectional side view of the examplemodular oven 100 of FIG. 11 , in accordance with at least one embodimentof the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the fuel basket 292and/or ash pan 294 may be removed to accommodate the gas burner 1010within the rear opening 340 of the oven body 110. In other embodiments,the gas burner 1010, fuel basket 292, and ash pan 294 are configuredsuch that the gas burner 1010 may be installed in the rear opening 340while the fuel basket 292 and ash pan 294 are in place within a nestinglip or other nesting feature(s) 1110 of the oven body 110.

FIG. 13 is a perspective, side view of the gas burner 1010 of FIGS. 11and 12 , in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Captive screws 1020 may be used to secure the gas burner1010 within the rear opening of the oven body. The gas burner 1010 mayinclude a plurality of carryover tubes, an igniter, control knobs andother components. A burner 255 may be shaped to emit the gas into thecombustion chamber 212. The burner 255 in this embodiment is arc-shaped,curved concentrically with a center of the oven. The heat shield 440separates the burner 255 from the cooking chamber, directing ignitedfuels to burn upwardly forcing hot air toward domed ceiling 235 and intothe cooking chamber 210. A flange 1302 extends about a periphery of thegas burner 1010 and is shaped to match and abut against the oven body110 to help minimize airflow through the rear opening.

FIG. 14 is a perspective front view of the modular oven 100, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Inthe example shown in FIG. 14 , the flat top 190 of the oven body 110includes a flexible mat 1310. The flexible mat 1310 may be fixedlyattached (e.g., glued) to the flat top 190, or may be rested on the flattop 190 and held in place by friction. Other attachment types arepossible and may be used instead or in addition. The flexible mat 1310may be made of polymers (e.g., heat-resistant silicone), composites(e.g., fiberglass or rock wool), or other materials capable ofwithstanding the surface temperatures of the top surface 190 withoutsignificant degradation. The flexible mat 1310 may also protect the topsurface 190 from scratches and dents when objects such as the front andrear doors are placed on top of it. In some embodiments, the flexiblemat 1310 may additionally serve to insulate the flat top 190, both forheat retention within the oven body 110 and to ensure that the flat top190 remains cool enough to be briefly touched by human hands duringcooking operations. The flat top 190, with or without the flexible mat1310, may be used as a shelf for temporarily storing oven components,foods and condiments, cooking utensils, etc. In the example shown inFIG. 14 , the front door 170 and removable handle 175 are temporarilystored on top of the flexible mat 1310. In some embodiments, theflexible mat 1310 may be replaced with a rigid plate made of aninsulating material such as ceramic or plastic.

Attached hereto is an Appendix that includes Figures A through T.Specifically, in several embodiments, one or more of the embodiments ofthe present application are provided in whole or in part as describedand illustrated in the Appendix, which forms part of the presentapplication. Moreover, Figures A through T provide additional supportfor any U.S. or non-U.S. design applications that are to be filed in thefuture claiming priority to this present U.S. utility patentapplication. More particularly, in the Appendix:

Figure A is a top-front-left perspective view of a new, original designfor a combustion oven according to a first embodiment;

Figure B is a bottom-front-left perspective view of the firstembodiment;

Figure C is a front elevational view of the first embodiment;

Figure D is a rear elevational view of the first embodiment;

Figure E is a left side elevational view of the first embodiment;

Figure F is a right side elevational view of the first embodiment;

Figure G is top plan view of the first embodiment;

Figure H is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment;

Figure I is a top-rear-right perspective view of the first embodiment;

Figure J is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the first embodiment

Figure K is a top-front-left perspective view of a new, original designfor a combustion oven according to a second embodiment;

Figure L is a bottom-front-left view of the second embodiment;

Figure M is a front elevational view of the second embodiment;

Figure N is a rear elevational view of the second embodiment;

Figure O is a left side elevational view of the second embodiment;

Figure P is a right side elevational view of the second embodiment;

Figure Q is top plan view of the second embodiment;

Figure R is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment;

Figure S is a top-rear-right perspective view of the second embodiment;and

Figure T is a bottom-rear-right perspective view of the secondembodiment.

In several embodiments, one or more of the embodiments described andillustrated in the Appendix are combined in whole or in part with one ormore of the embodiments described above, illustrated in one or more ofFIGS. 1 through 16 , one or more other embodiments described andillustrated in the Appendix, or any combination thereof.

As will be readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the artafter becoming familiar with the teachings herein, the presentdisclosure fills a long-standing need, by improving ease of use forwood-fueled and gas-fueled-fueled ovens, to cook food through radiantand/or convective heat. For example, a user may establish a coal bed ofa desired size, with predictable and repeatable thermal properties,without needing to measure fuel quantities. The double-walled design ofthe oven also permits the outer surfaces of the oven to be substantiallycooler than the inner surfaces while the oven is in operation, and thedomed ceiling, baking stone tray, and heat baffle define insulating airspaces within the oven body that further isolate the exterior surfacesfrom the heat inside the cooking chamber, permitting a user (forexample) to briefly (e.g., for one second) touch the handgrips evenwhile the oven is cooking, or to place objects on the flat top of themodular oven when they may be too hot to handle or to place on othersurfaces. These features allow even inexperienced users to obtaindesired cooking results repeatably, with minimal risk of contamination,injury, or fire.

A number of variations are possible on the examples and embodimentsdescribed and shown above and in the Appendix. For example, thedimensions or materials of the modular oven may be different thandescribed herein. The shape of the oven body may be different than shownherein, including but not limited to square, rectangular, hexagonal,octagonal, or semicircular. Certain aspects of the technology describedherein may be applied to ovens of other kinds, including electric ovens.

Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of thetechnology described and shown herein and in the Appendix are referredto variously as operations, steps, objects, elements, components, ormodules. Furthermore, it should be understood that these may occur or beperformed or arranged in any order, unless explicitly claimed otherwiseor a specific order or arrangement is inherently necessitated by theclaim language.

All directional references e.g., upper, lower, inner, outer, upward,downward, left, right, lateral, front, back, top, bottom, above, below,vertical, horizontal, clockwise, counterclockwise, proximal, and distalare only used for identification purposes to aid the reader'sunderstanding of the claimed subject matter, and do not createlimitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of themodular oven. Connection references, e.g., attached, coupled, connected,and joined are to be construed broadly and may include intermediatemembers between a collection of elements and relative movement betweenelements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references donot necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected and infixed relation to each other. The term “or” shall be interpreted to mean“and/or” rather than “exclusive or.” The word “comprising” does notexclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an”does not exclude a plurality. Unless otherwise noted in the claims,stated values shall be interpreted as illustrative only and shall not betaken to be limiting.

The above specification, examples, and data, together with the Appendix,provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplaryembodiments of the modular oven as defined in the claims. Althoughvarious embodiments of the claimed subject matter have been describedand shown above and in the Appendix with a certain degree ofparticularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments,those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to thedisclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of theclaimed subject matter. Still other embodiments are contemplated. It isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings and in the Appendix shall be interpreted asillustrative only of particular embodiments and not limiting. Changes indetail or structure may be made without departing from the basicelements of the subject matter as defined in the following claims.

In several embodiments, one or more of the operational steps in eachembodiment may be omitted. Moreover, in some instances, some features ofthe present disclosure may be employed without a corresponding use ofthe other features. Moreover, one or more of the embodiments disclosedabove and in the Appendix, or variations thereof, may be combined inwhole or in part with any one or more of the other embodiments disclosedabove and in the Appendix, or variations thereof.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail above and inthe Appendix, the embodiments described are illustrative only and arenot limiting, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatmany other modifications, changes and/or substitutions are possible inthe embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachingsand advantages of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications, changes, and/or substitutions are intended to be includedwithin the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover thestructures described herein as performing the recited function and notonly structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Moreover,it is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, exceptfor those in which the claim expressly uses the word “means” togetherwith an associated function.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven, comprising: a domed ceiling; a bakingstone disposed below the domed ceiling; a cooking chamber between thedomed ceiling and the baking stone; a first opening that provides accessto the cooking chamber, the first opening sized to accommodate food tobe cooked in the oven; a combustion chamber disposed adjacent thecooking chamber and at least partially below the cooking chamber; and asecond opening that provides access to the combustion chamber.
 2. Theoven of claim 1, further comprising a first nesting feature in thecombustion chamber; an ash pan comprising a second nesting feature andremovably positionable within the first nesting feature; and a fuelbasket removably positionable within the second nesting feature andwithin the combustion chamber, wherein the ash pan and fuel basket aresized to pass through the second opening.
 3. The oven of claim 2,comprising at least one air intake, and wherein the ash pan and the fuelbasket each include a plurality of ventilation holes, the fuel basketbeing in fluid communication with at least one air intake.
 4. The ovenof claim 3, wherein the plurality of ventilation holes in the fuelbasket include holes at a lower elevation and holes at a higherelevation, the holes at a higher elevation being disposed to providesecondary combustion of gases released from a combusting fuel in thefuel basket.
 5. The oven of claim 1, further comprising: a front openingbezel positioned within the first opening; and a front door removablypositionable within the front opening bezel.
 6. The oven of claim 5,further comprising a front lip positioned at a top edge of the frontopening bezel, the front lip configured to affect air flow within thecooking chamber.
 7. The oven of claim 6, wherein a height of the frontopening has a ratio of between 1:1:4 and 1:1.7 to a height of a highestfeature of the domed ceiling above the baking stone.
 8. The oven ofclaim 1, wherein the combustion chamber is configured to interchangeablyaccommodate both a fuel burning basket and a gas burner.
 9. The oven ofclaim 1, wherein the combustion chamber configured to simultaneouslyaccommodate both a fuel burning basket and a gas burner.
 10. The oven ofclaim 1, further comprising a rear opening bezel positioned within thesecond opening.
 11. The oven of claim 10, further comprising a gasburner removably positionable within the rear opening bezel andconfigured to supply heat to the cooking chamber when a gas of the gasburner is combusted.
 12. The oven of claim 1, further comprising a heatshield disposed behind the baking stone and extending to an elevationabove the baking stone, the heat shield separating the cooking chamberfrom the combustion chamber.
 13. An oven, comprising: an oven bodycomprising: an outer wall; an inner wall disposed within and spaced fromthe outer wall; a top portion comprising a flat upper surface; a bottomportion comprising a bottom surface, the bottom portion including atleast one formed handgrip and at least one air intake; a domed ceilingattached to the inner wall below the flat upper surface; a baking stonepositioned below and spaced from the domed ceiling; a cooking chamberdefined by the baking stone, the domed ceiling, and the inner wall; acombustion chamber adjacent the cooking chamber; a baffle positionedbetween and spaced from the baking stone and the bottom surface, andabove the at least one air intake; a front opening through the outerwall and the inner wall providing access to the cooking chamber; and arear opening through the outer wall and the inner wall and providingaccess to the combustion chamber.
 14. The oven of claim 13, wherein theouter wall, inner wall, top portion, bottom portion, at least one airintake, domed ceiling, baking stone, cooking chamber, baffle, frontopening, and rear opening are configured such that the at least oneformed handgrip does not exceed 150° F. while a temperature in thecooking chamber is 450° F. or less.
 15. The oven of claim 13, whereinthe at least one air intake is disposed so that at least some air flowfrom the at least one air intake flows between the baffle and the bottomsurface.
 16. The oven of claim 13, wherein the outer wall, inner wall,top portion, bottom portion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling,baking stone, cooking chamber, baffle, front opening, and rear openingare configured such that at least some heated air within the cookingchamber forms a convective air dam proximate to the front opening. 17.The oven of claim 13, wherein the outer wall, inner wall, top portion,bottom portion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling, baking stone,cooking chamber, baffle, front opening, and rear opening are configuredsuch that at least some heated air within the cooking chamber exits thecooking chamber through the front opening.
 18. The oven of claim 17,further comprising a heat-resistant ceramic insulation materialpositioned adjacent to at least one of the outer wall, inner wall, topportion, bottom portion, at least one air intake, domed ceiling, baffle,front opening, or rear opening.
 19. The oven of claim 17, wherein atotal mass of the oven is between about 10 lbs and about 100 lbs.
 20. Aportable oven, comprising: an oven body having a front opening and arear opening; a front air inlet disposed below the front opening andproviding air to a lower insulating air space; a combustion chamberadjacent to and accessible from the rear opening, the lower insulatingspace being in communication with the combustion chamber; a cookingchamber separated from and disposed above the lower insulating chamber,the cooking chamber being in communication with the combustion chamber,the cooking chamber being accessible through the front opening; and anintermediate insulating air space between the cooking chamber and thelower insulating air space.
 21. The oven of claim 20, comprising anupper insulating air space disposed above and isolated from the cookingchamber.
 22. The oven of claim 20, comprising a cooking stone disposedbetween and separating the cooking chamber and the intermediateinsulating air space.
 23. The oven of claim 20, comprising a bafflebetween the intermediate insulating air space and the lower insulatingair space.